Handbook

Required reading

General information

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

International

Handbook sitemap

General information about the Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education caters for a wide range of interests in areas related to education and the environment including undergraduate and graduate teaching programs; TESOL and applied linguistics; outdoor and environmental education; vocational and technical education and training; and specialist graduate programs for professionals at graduate certificate, graduate diploma and Masters degree levels. The Faculty also provides research supervision and training at both Masters and Doctoral level. The Faculty provides professional development activities and programs for teachers on a range of educational issues across all curriculum areas. Students from other Faculties of the University may apply to enrol in individual education subjects.

The Faculty offers programs at Melbourne (Bundoora) and at the regional campuses of Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton. Some programs are also offered offshore.

Education Bendigo

The academic unit is committed to providing a rich learning environment for students and staff through innovative programs and services in areas related to education. The academic unit's focus is on pre-service, in-service and postgraduate courses for teachers and other professionals with an interest in education. The academic unit is committed to research and other scholarly activities that advance the teaching profession. Programs offered are informed by current research and are designed to meet the needs of the university's regional and international communities. Students have an opportunity to explore widely with leaders in their particular field of interest.

Specialist areas of study include:

• applied learning
• curriculum and policy
• early childhood education
• gifted education
• health education
• information and communication technology
• language and literacy
• middle years education
• multimedia education
• physical education
• primary teacher education
• science and mathematics education
• secondary teacher education
• special education
• student welfare and guidance
• technology education
• vocational education and training.

Education Melbourne

The academic unit offers undergraduate and graduate entry pre-service teacher education, and postgraduate courses for teachers and other professionals with interests in many aspects of education. Some programs are also offered offshore. The academic unit supports the development of educational communities both within and outside Australia; encourages the development and application of new knowledge and ideas through research, teaching and community engagement; promotes open discourse and intellectual integrity in all interactions between staff, students and the wider community; and values interdisciplinary perspectives on education and the reflective development of knowledge and practice.

Specialist studies include:

• pre-service teacher education
• adult education
• applied linguistics (including TESOL and LOTE teaching)
• cross cultural communication
• multicultural education
• counselling
• student welfare and guidance
• curriculum and policy
• educational leadership and management
• information and communication technology
• multimedia education
• language and literacy
• science and mathematics education
• performing arts education
• technology education
• vocational education and training.

Outdoor and Environmental Education

The academic unit offers undergraduate programs in Outdoor Education and Environmental Education including Nature Tourism and Natural Resources Education as well as graduate programs in research (Masters and PhD) and postgraduate coursework at Graduate Diploma and Masters levels. The focus is on developing knowledge about nature, building relationships with the land, and understanding place, culture, language, and experience. Students have an opportunity to explore widely with leaders in their particular field of interest.

Studies in outdoor and environmental education include:

• environmental studies: bush, rock, local, river, winter alpine environments
• leadership
• natural resources education
• naturalist studies
• nature tourism
• outdoor education
• outdoor and physical education
• outdoor recreation education.

Education Albury-Wodonga

General course enquiries

Enquiries about prerequisites, admission requirements and applications for coursework degrees, by both current and prospective students, should be directed to the relevant campus academic unit using the contact details provided above. Local students apply through VTAC for undergraduate courses and selected graduate entry teaching programs.

International students

Admission of international students is coordinated by La Trobe International. Information on application procedures, accommodation, visa requirements, fees, is available at www.latrobe.edu.au/international or contact La Trobe International on +61 3 9479 1199 or email international@latrobe.edu.au.

Professional placements

Some courses require students to undertake unpaid professional teaching practice placements. Placements may be located in either metropolitan or rural areas. In most courses that require students to undertake placements, the placement involves being assigned to a school, or other approved educational setting, on a full-time basis over a period of days or weeks. In some cases students undertake placement interstate or overseas.

The university maintains insurance policies to protect students undertaking outside practical placement (practicum) as a compulsory course requirement, or fieldwork or other work undertaken off campus as part of a course or approved research work. Further information is available from the La Trobe University Insurance Office (website: www.latrobe.edu.au/insurance/) or the Faculty Office.

Working with children check

The Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development require a satisfactory criminal record check for all teacher education students undertaking practicum requirements in Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development schools. It is expected that equivalent requirements will exist for all other Victorian schools. Upon first enrolling in teacher education courses, students will be required to complete a ‘Working with Children Check’ form available at Australia Post offices. Students must provide a certified copy of their valid ‘Working with Children’ card prior to undertaking teaching placements. Confirmation of a criminal record may jeopardise a student’s ability to gain access to a suitable, or any, practicum placement(s) and may therefore delay or prevent completion of the course.

Meeting employer requirements

While every effort is made to equip students with qualifications that will meet the needs of prospective employers, it is the individual student’s responsibility to confirm that their studies meet the employment requirements and to confirm that both academic and professional studies are consistent with the requirements of potential employers.

Fees

Australian citizens and holders of Permanent Humanitarian visas offered either a Commonwealth supported place or a fee-paying place may be eligible to defer the tuition fees by using the HECS-HELP or Fee-HELP Commonwealth Government loan schemes. Further information on HECS-HELP and Fee-HELP can be found at www.goingtouni.gov.au.

Further information on Faculty of Education courses and fees is available on the website: www.latrobe.edu.au/education/areas-of-study.

Flexible teaching arrangements

In order to accommodate student needs, some subjects are taught in a mode different from the normal regular weekly classes. For example, modes may include block mode (i.e., intensive weekend or week-long classes), classes taught outside of normal semester dates, classes taught via web-based teaching or a combination of on-line learning and face-to-face classes.

Subjects offered by the Faculty of Education

Students should refer to the Subject Database for up-to-date information:  www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public

Subject timetable

Subject timetables are available on the La Trobe website: www.latrobe.edu.au/students/timetables.html or from the Education enquiries office on the campus of enrolment.